Articulation structure for sliding shelf stem

ABSTRACT

An articulation mechanism for a sliding shelf stem of a household appliance and a method for constructing the articulation mechanism are disclosed. The articulation mechanism may operate without the use of an additional piece and may be made only with a stamping on the counter-door itself of the household appliance. The configuration of the articulation mechanism may simplify its fabrication and assembly, and may reduce or eliminate the need for use of accessories and tools for the assembly processes, simplifying construction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/037,596, filed Mar. 1, 2011, which is a continuation of and claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/BR2009/000281, filed Sep. 1, 2009, which claims priority to Brazilian Patent Application No. MU8801927-6, filed Sep. 1, 2008, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to electromechanical devices including household appliances, Aspects particularly relate to a door with a housing facilitating articulation of a sliding shelf stem in appliances including household stoves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In stoves in use today, it is common to use sliding shelves that coordinate movement along with the opening movement of the oven door. In these products, the shelves are supplied with stems that connect the shelf and the oven door, allowing the shelf traction with the door opening movement.

In order to connect the stems with the door, ear shape add on accessories are manufactured with a fitting for the stem, functioning as a bushing, allowing the rotation of the stem end when this serves to provide traction to the shelf. Such pieces are fastened in the counter-door through adhesive tapes, rivets or screws, requiring the use of an additional operation that requires assembly manpower, which represents an appreciable portion of the product's final price. Eliminating such pieces and, consequently the manpower and assembly processes is desirable.

WO 2004/020910 A1 describes an oven shelf sliding system through rotations added in the stems of the shelves. MU 8601330-0 U describes articulable shelves of pendular oscillatory motion and requires further add-on conventional accessory parts. Neither of these documents contain the innovative features described in the disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes articulation mechanisms including housings in doors for household appliances and related sliding shelf systems, and methods for constructing such articulation mechanisms in the doors. The disclosed articulation mechanisms may include articulation mechanisms for a sliding shelf stem of a household appliance. The articulation mechanism may be formed without the use of an additional piece, and may be made only with a stamping on the household appliance counter-door. Additionally the articulation mechanism may have shapes, dimensions and arrangement that simplify its fabrication and assembly, may reduce or eliminate the need for use of accessories and tools for the assembly processes, consequently simplifying its development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a household appliance including a door configured for use with a sliding shelf system.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrates one configuration of a counter-door with a receptacle for use with a sliding shelf system.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrates another configuration of a counter-door with a receptacle for use with a sliding shelf system.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrates another configuration of a counter-door with a receptacle for use with a sliding shelf system.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrates another configuration of a counter-door with a receptacle for use with a sliding shelf system.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrates another configuration of a counter-door with a receptacle for use with a sliding shelf system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the present disclosure, the stem articulation structure (1) of the shelf (2) is made by a stamping in a counter-door plate (23) of a door (3) of an appliance such as an oven (30). This stamping provides the counter-door plate (23) of the door (3) a proper container to the stem end (1 a) of the stem (1) which connects to the door (3), allowing the sliding shelf motion (2) when the counter-door plate (23) and door (3) move. This stamping operation is made in the tool that shapes the counter-door plate (23) itself, with no need, therefore, for additional manpower, making the assembly cheaper and simple.

FIG. 1 presents an overview of an appliance, such as a stove or oven (30), having a frame (20) forming a body and having an internal compartment (21). The internal compartment (21) includes a sliding shelf (2) connected to the oven door (3) through a stem (1) which serves as the shelf traction (2) when the oven door (3) opens. As is evident from the figures, the counter door plate (23) defines a primary plane (24) and has a substantially planar surface which faces the interior (21) of the oven (30) when the door (3) is in a closed position. FIG. 2A-2C illustrate a stamping frame arrangement of the stem articulation device (1), comprising of a positive pull (4) on the counter-door plate (23), on the border of a depression (5) in the same counter-door plate (23). FIG. 2A shows a top plan view, FIG. 2B shows a side sectional view taken through line C-C of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2C is a detail perspective view. As shown, the stamping creates a depression (5) in the counter-door plate (23) of the door (3) and, in the border (26) of the depression (5), a positive pull (4) upward the plate plane (i.e., a protrusion), so as to allow the stem end (1 a) of the stem (1) to enter into the positive pull (4). As can best be seen from FIGS. 2A-2C, the stamping creates an integral recess or depression (5) in the counter door plate (23) in a direction away from the interior (21) of the oven (30) when the door (3) is in a closed position and an integral protrusion (4) in the counter door plate (23) in a direction opposite from the direction of the depression (5), i.e., in the direction toward the interior (21) of the oven (30) when the door (3) is in a closed position. As is further evident from FIGS. 2A-2C, when the stem end (1 a) is engaged in the protrusion (4), the stem end (la) lies in (i.e., intersects) the primary plane (24) of the counter-door plate (23).

FIGS. 3A-3C present the first stamping frame alternative embodiment of the stem articulation device (1), comprising of a positive pull (6) hollow arch-shape in the counter-door plate (23). FIG. 3A shows a top plan view of the alternative embodiment, FIG. 3B shows a side view and FIG. 3C a detail perspective view. Here, the stamping forms a positive pull (6) in the counter-door plate (23) of the door (3), upward the plate main level, hollow arch-shaped (6), so as to allow the stem end (1) to enter into the hollow arch (6).

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrates a second stamping frame alternative embodiment of the stem articulation device (1), comprising of a positive pull (7) hollow arch-shape (i.e., protrusion) in the counter-door plate (23), lodged inside a depression (8) on the same counter-door (3). FIG. 4A shows a top plan view, FIG. 4B shows a side view and FIG. 4C a detail perspective view. As shown, the stamping forms a depression (8) in the counter-door plate (23) of the door (3) and, inside the depression (8), a hollow arch (7) upward the plate depression (8) plane, so as to allow the stem end (1) to enter inside the hollow arch (7). As can best be seen from FIGS. 4A-4C, the stamping creates an integral recess or depression (8) in the counter door plate (23) in a direction away from the interior (21) of the oven (30) when the door (3) is in a closed position and an integral protrusion (7) in the depression (8) of the counter door plate (23) in a direction opposite from the direction of the depression (8), i.e., in the direction toward the interior (21) of the oven (30) when the door (3) is in a closed position. As is further evident from FIGS. 2A-2C, when the stem end (la) is engaged in the protrusion (4), the stem end (la) lies in (i.e., intersects) the primary plane (24) of the counter-door plate (23).

FIGS. 5A-5C show a third stamping framed alternative embodiment of the stem articulation device (1), comprising of a positive pull (9) on the counter-door plate (23). FIG. 5A shows a top plan view, FIG. 5B shows a side view and FIG. 5C shows a detail perspective view. As shown, the stamping forms a positive pull (9) upward the counter-door plate (23) of the door (3) plane level, so as to allow the stem end (1) to enter inside the positive pull (9).

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a fourth stamping frame alternative embodiment of the stem articulation device (1) comprising of a vertical tab (10) with a central hole, printed on the counter-door plate (3). FIG. 6A shows a top plan view, FIG. 6B shows a side view and FIG. 6C a detail perspective view. As seen here, the stamping creates a tab perpendicular (10) to the primary plane (24) of the counter-door plate (23), supplied with a central orifice, so as to allow the bar end (1 a) to enter into the central orifice.

This invention is not limited to the representations mentioned or illustrated herein, and it has to be comprehended in its wide scope. Many changes and other representations of the invention will come in mind of those skilled in the technique to which this invention belongs, having the learning benefit presented in previous descriptions and attached drawings. Further, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed specific shape and that changes and other shapes are understood as enclosed within the scope of the attached claims. Although specific terms are nominated herein, they are only used in a generic and descriptive form and not for a limiting purpose. 

1. A method of constructing an appliance door, the method comprising: stamping, in a counter-door plate of the appliance door, a receptacle configured to receive a stem of a sliding shelf and to permit the stem of the sliding shelf to rotate when the counter-door plate is moved.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: stamping, in the counter-door plate, a protrusion forming a first portion of the receptacle.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: stamping, in the counter-door plate, a depression forming a second portion of the receptacle.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising: stamping the protrusion at a perimeter of the depression, wherein the protrusion and the depression enable an end of the stem of the sliding shelf to be disengaged and reengaged from the receptacle.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: stamping the depression and the protrusion such that an edge of the depression abuts an edge of the protrusion, wherein the depression facilitates inserting the end of the stem of the sliding shelf into the protrusion.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising: mounting the appliance door to an appliance having an opening through which the sliding shelf is configured to slide when the appliance door is opened, wherein the appliance door is mounted to the appliance such that an outer perimeter of the counter-door plate completely surrounds the opening of the appliance when the appliance door in a closed position.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: forming the counter-door plate with a substantially planar surface, wherein the substantially planar surface is substantially parallel to a back wall of the appliance when the appliance door is in the closed position.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising: forming the protrusion as an arching protrusion, wherein, when the appliance door is in the closed position, the arching protrusion extends from the substantially planar surface of the counter-door plate toward the back wall of the appliance.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: stamping, in the counter-door plate, a hollowed arching bow forming a first portion of the receptacle.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: stamping the hollowed arching bow such that the hollowed arching bow sits on and extends from a plane created by the counter-door plate and such that an end of the stem of the sliding shelf can be inserted within the hollowed arching bow.
 11. The method of claim 9 further comprising: stamping, in the counter-door plate, a depression forming a second portion of the receptacle, wherein hollowed arching bow is housed in the depression, and wherein the hollowed arching bow extends outward from a plane formed by a base of the depression enabling an end of the stem of the sliding shelf to be inserted within the hollowed arching bow.
 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising: stamping, in the counter-door plate, a vertical tab including a central through hole configured to house an end of the sliding shelf, wherein the vertical tab extends perpendicular to a plane formed by the counter-door plate.
 13. An appliance door comprising: a stamped counter-door plate configured to house a stem of a sliding shelf and to facilitate sliding of at least one shelf, wherein the stamped counter-door plate integrally houses a receptacle configured to permit the stem of the sliding shelf to rotate when the stamped counter-door is moved, and wherein the receptacle includes a hollowed arching bow configured such that an end of the stem can be inserted within the hollowed arching bow.
 14. The appliance door of claim 13, wherein the hollowed arching bow sits on a plane formed by the stamped counter-door and extends upward from the plane formed by the stamped counter-door.
 15. The appliance door of claim 13, wherein the hollowed arching bow is housed in a depression in the counter-door, the hollowed arching bow extending outward from a plane formed by a base of the depression.
 16. An appliance door comprising: a stamped counter-door configured to house a stem of a sliding shelf and to facilitate sliding of at least one shelf, wherein the stamped counter-door integrally houses a receptacle configured to permit the stem of the sliding shelf to rotate when the stamped counter-door is moved, wherein the receptacle includes a vertical tab extending perpendicular to a plane formed by the stamped counter-door, the vertical tab having a central through hole configured to house an end of the stem. 